Camellia Lounge

BarFly's Review of Camellia Lounge

Anyone for a spot of tea? How about tea laced with whiskey? Or mango rum? Earl Grey never had friends this powerful. Hidden behind the Tea Zone shop in the Pearl is a funky little lounge with burnt orange walls adorned with Christmas lights and sporting a menu of cocktails like the Genghis Kowboy, Ross Island Ice Tea and Mate Mojito, These tea-infused dynamos combine invigorating herbal ingredients with our old pal alcohol.

The ludicrously named Chitty Chitty Chai Chai is as sweet and satisfying as cookie dough and the happy hour plates are quite tasty—though a bit scanty. FYI, the tea drinks are usually heavily caffeinated so be prepared for a visit from Mr. Jitters.

Reader Reviews

Things have changed. We're better about music and volume. We always close at 12am Tuesday-Saturday. Movies are now on Sundays and rarely listed anywhere, but check out our myspace page @myspace.com/teazone, and follow us on twitter (small shudder). My menu is not as caffeinated as you think, but way, way too extensive. New specials Tues-Wed and Fri-Sat, $3 to $5. If you like us, thanks for coming back, if you haven't tried us, come in.

Thanks,
Conor, the faggy Head Bartender with the hawk, who loves to make you a "Whatever".

PS. If I'm not there, talk to Noah.

Reviewed Anonymously by headbartender on August 15, 2009, 3:56 am

Favorite dressy bar in Portland

Quiet, slightly upscale, but still really comfortable. The food and drinks are all really good and more than worth the prices, they have incredible happy hour specials, and Mondays they serve $2 pints (pints!) of microbrews. There's also live music of the jazz/accoustic variety that doesn't suck, friendly staff, and a movie shown every thursday.
But honestly... $2 pints of microbrews. One of the few places in the Pearl that manages to be comfortable, unique and unpretentious without being a dive bar.

I visited this place last night to support a friend of a friend's band. I gotta say, although there not down with us black lungs, it was a cool little joint. Very comfy, very small, intimate little room, with some truly unique cocktails. The bartenders could have used some extra help, but they were very friendly and personable. Unfortunately it is not cheap, and I agree with noway. The band was really cool but with a room that small there was no need for the amps, it was way to loud and didn't sound good. It would have been much more enjoyable if they had played unplugged. But all in all, this place is definetely refreshingly unique and perfect if you want a mellow night. I will be back.

Appropriately, Camellia (taken from the scientific name for the tea plant) feels more like a tea house than a bar. The room is dimly lit and small, but thanks to comfy furnishings feels cozy rather than claustrophobic. Good place for quiet drinks with a few friends trying to avoid the bar scene; also a great stop for a little caffeinated pick-me-up before heading out somewhere more lively. It's hard to believe they can generate the pages and pages of specialty cocktails from behind that tiny bar, but they do. My favorites include the Smokey Robinson (pineapple juice and bourbon infused with smokey lapsang souchong tea) and the Thai Phoenix (ginger vodka and mate sour garnished with chilis - it sounds overpowering but is actually quite mild and refreshing). Appetizers are a little all over the map, but generally yummy.

My only suggestion would be to limit their live music to the acoustic variety; last night we heard Kate Elliott and her gorgeous voice would have easily filled the small space without amps. The overloud music clashes with the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.

Reviewed Anonymously by noway on June 29, 2007, 10:58 am

Love it here!

This place is great! I love the drinks. Pirate-Janey with rum, green tea, coconut milk, and pineapple juice. MMMMMM.Makes me feel like I am on the beach. Also the Chitty Chai- like a spanish coffee but with chai- Damn Heavenly. and they even use soy milk on request!! Oh but don't tell anyone I want to keep it all to myself!

Reviewed Anonymously by Krispers on April 19, 2007, 11:40 am

THIS PLACE ROCKS!

The camellia lounge is one of the coolest places in the pearl! they have live music and DJ's on the weekends! BUT THEY SHOW FREE MOVIES ON TUESDAYS! Last week i saw HAIRSPRAY and this week is HEATHERS! SUPER RAD!

Reviewed Anonymously by james on March 27, 2007, 12:27 pm

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